Barrier gate

ABSTRACT

A barrier gate having an L-shaped arm mounted so that the extending section of the arm extends across the roadway and can be raised in a parallel vertical manner from a lowered position. The stanchion for the gate can also hold a ticket issuing or toll receiving unit. In a further embodiment, two L-shaped arms are provided with one extending forwardly and one extending rearwardly from the stanchion. The rearward arm is positioned so that a vehicle, after entering along side the stanchion and accepting a ticket, is blocked from backing up and obtaining another ticket.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Warren H. Fisher flasbrouck Heights, NJ. {21] Appl. No 827,786 [22] Filed May 26, 1969 [45] Patented June 29, 1971 [731 Assignee Fallen 3:. Cooper, lnc.

Brooklyn,N.Y.

[54] BARRIER GATE 15 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 49/35, 49/49 [51] Int. Cl E05b 65/00 [50] Field of Search 49/35,49, 124, 333, 334, 335;119/15.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 589,818 9/1897 Curry 119/155 UX 717,249 12/1902 McGinnis 119/155 UX 1 30 i 5 t I 2/1928 Whalen 1l9/15.5

2,874,819 2/1959 Nutter 49/35 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,068,811 2/1954 France 49/334 165,838, 11/1905 Germany. 49/333 386,271 12/1923 Germany 119/155 Primary ExaminerDennis L. Taylor Attorneys-Norman Friedman, Stephen E. Feldman, Morris 1.

Pollack, Arthur T. Groeninger and Philip Furgang ABSTRACT: A barrier gate having an L-shaped arm mounted so that the extending section of the arm extends across the roadway andcan be raised in a parallel vertical manner from a lowered position. The stanchion for the gate can also hold a ticket issuing or toll receiving unit. In. a further embodiment, two L-shaped arms are provided with one extending forwardly and one extending rearwardly from the stanchion. The rearward arm is positioned so that a vehicle, after entering along side the stanchion and accepting a ticket, is blocked from backing up and obtaining another ticket.

PATENTEU JUHZS ls? HEET 1 UF 2 FIG.2

INVENTOR WARREN H. FISHER M PM ATTORNEY PATENIEuJumm-n 3,589,066

S'rliU 2 BF 2 INVENTOR WARREN H3 FISHER BARRIER GATE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Barrier gates most always operate in the same well-known manner. An arm is positioned across a roadway and raises in an angular manner about a pivot point on a stanchion. The gate, which is used extensively in many toll and other restricted entry operations, including railroad crossings, requires that the entire gate be lifted through a large angle before entry could be obtained. Thus the need always existed for a toll gate arm which could be raised through a smaller angle and still permit entry into an area.

Also there was a need for a barrier gate which could be combined with a tool receiving or ticket issuing machine so that the stanchion for the gate would also serve as the enclosure for the ticket issuing or toll receiving unit. Normally with the usual type of barrier gate, this could not be accomplished since the stanchion for the barrier gate and the stanchion for the ticket issuing or toll receiving unit could not be located in the exact same position. The barrier gate had to be in front of the ticket issuing machine and thus the stanchion for the barrier gate could not be used for any other purpose than support ing the gate. Thus an entirely separate stanchion had to be provided for the ticket issuing or coin dispensing machine.

Another problem that has existed with barrier gates and ticket issuing machines is that in parking areas when a vehicle has entered the area where a ticket is dispensed there has to be an arrangement to prevent the vehicle, once it has taken a ticket, from backing up and taking another ticket. This is commonly done so that the second ticket can be given to a friend who has been in the parking area for a long time. The friend can then present that ticket to the parking area instead of his own ticket and thereby pay for a shorter parking time and defraud the parking lot. It would be most advantageous if a second arm could be provided which would prevent vehicles from backing out ofa ticket receiving area and also if this arm could be combined with the aforementioned L-shaped arm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An L-shaped barrier gate arm which is mounted so that it can be raised vertically and wherein the supporting stanchion for the arm serves as the container for a tool receiving or ticket issuing machine. Alternatively, a second L-shaped arm is provided to prevent a vehicle from taking more than one ticket when entering a parking area.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view of the L-shaped barrier gate arm of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the barrier gate and a vehicle before the gate has been raised. Dotted lines show the gate after it has been raised.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative mode of the invention where front and rear arms are provided to prevent a vehicle from backing out of a ticket issuing area.

FIG. 4 is a view of the apparatus of FIG. 3 before a ticket has been issued.

FIG. 5 is a view of the apparatus of FIG. 3 and a vehicle after a ticket has been issued.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The construction of the invention includes a stanchion or support means I which contains any of the well'known devices for operating a barrier gate such as that shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,488,313 and 2,795,875. This includes the motor and gear transmission which transmits the rotary motion to an output shaft (shaft 2 in the present invention and shaft 18 in U.S. Pat. No. 2,488,383). The transmission includes suitable mechanism, also well known, for rotating the shaft through a particular angle to raise the arm and then rotating the shaft through the same angle to lower the arm. This is so well known that it will not be described in detail.

Also located within this stanchion is a ticket issuing device, such as shown in FIG. 3, or automatic toll collecting device as shown in FIG. 1, or any other devices which are normally used in conjunction with barrier gate arms. These are well-known devices, as shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,416,705, and therefore will not be described in detail. However in the prior art they were not located in the same stanchion. The gate mechanism (shown by dashed lines 30 in FIG. 1) and the toll collecting mechanism (shown by dashed lines 31 in FIG. 1) are independent mechanisms within the same stanchion. However, if desired, the mechanism can be integrated to provide one unitary mechanism performing both functions.

As illustrated, the stanchion is basically an elongated support having a substantially square cross-sectional area. But, it will be appreciated that it could be made round or any other suitable shape. The configuration of the stanchion is not critical to the invention other than that it effectively act as a support for the toll gate arm and for the various ticket issuing, toll collecting or other apparatus incorporated therein.

As aforementioned, the mechanism within the stanchion rotates output shaft 2. This operates on a signal which may be generated by a treadle in the roadbed, the taking ofa ticket, or the deposit of a coin into a receptacle. These are all wellknown means for rotating a barrier gate and also returning the same to its original position as shown in the aforementioned patents.

In this invention, output shaft 2 is connected to an L-shaped arm which consists basically of two sections, 4 and 5. Section 4 is mounted for rotational movement in a plane which is substantially parallel to the front of the stanchion and also parallel to the direction of the roadway adjacent which the stanchion is positioned. Section 4 is positioned at a slight angle from the horizontal.

Section 5 of the arm is perpendicular to section 4 and thereby perpendicular to the plane of movement of section 4. The two sections of the arm may be constructed of separate sections or may be one unitary member. As shown in the drawings, section 4 also has a weighted member 7 attached thereto. This weight is used to facilitate operation of the arm in the conventional manner.

A suitable stop sign 9 or other lighting or indicating device, if desired, can be mounted on arm 5 as shown in the drawings.

In operation, after a switch is triggered, as aforementioned, the arm will raise sufficiently so that section 5 is above the vehicle as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 2. A second trigger mechanism, also well known in the art will then lower arm 5 to its original position as shown by the solid lines in FIG. 2, after the vehicle has left the toll area, for example as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,795,875.

It will be appreciated that an L-shaped arm, as before mentioned, permits the entire section of the arm blocking the road to be lifted uniformly and thereby far quicker than is now done. The arm only has to raise through a smaller arcuate distance, see FIG. 2, whereas in the prior art, the arm has to lift from a horizontal to a vertical position.

It is significant that the gate arm is raised in this invention and not lowered into the roadway. If the arm were lowered into the roadway, it would mean that vehicles would run over the arm and probably damage it. Even ifa channel were dug in the roadway to accommodate the arm, the channel itself would be subject to being filled with rain and snow and automotive wastes such as oil and grease. Thus the channel would have to be cleaned constantly or the arm would not lower completely and become subject to damage by vehicles passing over it. By the use of an arm that raises, as in applicant's invention, these problems are eliminated.

The use of an L-shaped arm also permits the ticket issuing or toll collecting device to be incorporated in the same stanchion that is used for the barrier gate. With conventional barrier gates this cannot be done since, for example as shown in FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 2,795,875, the barrier gate is positioned in front of the ticket issuing machine and therefore the same stanchion cannot be used for both devices.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment. Two L-shaped arms are connected, one to the right 15 and one to the left 16 of the barrier gate shown in FIG. 3. The one to the right is similar in construction to the one previously described. The one to the left also is substantially the same as the other, however it extends in the opposite direction and is at an angle 17 with respect to section 15. Both of these arms, as with the previously described arm contain two sections, one parallel to the direction of the roadway and one perpendicular to it. Sections 20 and 22 are parallel to the direction of the roadway and sections 21 and 24 are perpendicular to the aforementioned sections and to the roadway. Arms 15 and 16 are an integral unit and move in the same plane. The arms are at an angle 17 of about 150 to each other so that one L-shaped section can be raised while the other is lowered. This is better explained by reference to FIGS. 4 and and the following description.

The operation of the mechanism within stanchion 14 on which the anns are mounted will not be described in detail since it is briefly mentioned with respect to FIG. 1 and is the same conventional mechanism as mentioned with respect to FIG. 1.

In operation, arm 5 will be lowered as shown in FIG. 4 so that a vehicle is prevented from passing. (Arm 16 is in the raised position as shown in FIG. 4). In the same manner as the arm is raised in FIG. 1, arm 15 will be raised upon the taking of a ticket so that the vehicle can pass. However, since the entire arm is one unitary member, when arm 15 is raised arm 16 will be lowered as shown in FIG. 5 so that the vehicle cannot go backward but can only go forward. Arm 16 will be in the way of reverse movement.

The reason for this construction is that it is common in entering a parking lot for an operator of a vehicle to take one ticket and then to back up and take another ticket so that a friend who has a vehicle in the parking area for a long time could use the latter ticket to show that he has only been in the parking lot for a short time and thereby pay the parking attendant for the short time and thereby defraud the parking lot.

By preventing the vehicle from backing up and taking a second ticket, this method of defrauding parking areas is eliminated.

It will be appreciated that the angle between sections 4 and may be eliminated or varied depending on the height of vehicles and the height of the stanchion and the particular operation for which the apparatus is employed.

It will also be appreciated that the L-shaped arm may be made of rectangular or other cross-sectional construction (in FIG. 1 it is circular while in FIG. 3 it is rectangular) and may be made of steel, aluminum or other strong, suitable material.

Specific embodiments of the invention have been described but the invention is not limited thereto since many modifications may be made by one skilled in the art as come within the true spirit of the invention.

lclaim:

l. A control device mounted alongside a roadway for controlling entry of vehicles onto the roadway comprising:

a support member;

an arm having a first section mounted on said support member for rotational movement in a first plane;

a second section connected to said first section and disposed in a plane which is perpendicular to the first plane, said arm .being mounted to be raised upwardly from a first position to permit a vehicle to pass there beneath, and

wherein said entry control device is adapted to be mounted alongside a roadway, said first section is mounted parallel to the direction of the roadway and said second section is mounted perpendicular to the direction of the roadway and perpendicular to said first section.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said first and second sections of said arm com rise an integral L -shaped member.

3. The device of c arm 2 wherein said support member includes a rotatably mounted shaft on which said arm is mounted.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said first and second sections comprise elongated straight members.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said arm is disposed in a plane in a first position so that a vehicle is prevented from passing by the position of said second section and is mounted to be raised to a second position whereby a vehicle can pass beneath.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said support member contains means for dispensing webs of material.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said support member contains means for receiving coins.

8. The device of claim 5 wherein said arm contains a third section which extends from said first section and is mounted for movement in the same plane as said first section and is integral therewith; and a fourth section, which extends parallel to said second section and is perpendicular to the plane of movement of said third section.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the second section and said fourth section are disposed so as to be separated by a length which is substantially the same as a vehicle which is adapted to be employed with the device.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said first section extends in one direction from said support and said third section extends in a generally opposite direction from said support.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said arm is disposed so that when it is in said first position a vehicle can pass beneath said fourth section.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the first and third sections are at an angle with respect to each other.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said angle is less than 180 but greater than 14. The device of claim 13 wherein said first and third sections in said first position are disposed at substantially the same angle from the horizontal. 7

15. The device of claim 14 wherein when said arm is moved from said first position to said second position, the fourth section is positioned so that a vehicle is prevented from passing. 

1. A control device mounted alongside a roadway for controlling entry of vehicles onto the roadway comprising: a support member; an arm having a first section mounted on said support member for rotational movement in a first plane; a second section connected to said first section and disposed in a plane which is perpendicular to the first plane, said arm being mounted to be raised upwardly from a first position to permit a vehicle to pass there beneath, and wherein said entry control device is adapted to be mounted alongside a roadway, said first section is mounted parallel to the direction of the roadway and said second section is mounted perpendicular to the direction of the roadway and perpendicular to said first section.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said first and second sections of said arm comprise an integral L-shaped member.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said support member includes a rotatably mounted shaft on which said arm is mounted.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein said first and second sections comprise elongated straight members.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein said arm is disposed in a plane in a first position so that a vehicle is prevented from passing by the position of said second section and is mounted to be raised to a second position whereby a vehicle can pass beneath.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein said support member contains means for dispensing webs of material.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein said support member contains means for receiving coins.
 8. The device of claim 5 wherein said arm contains a third section which extends from said first section and is mounted for movement in the same plane as said first section and is integral therewith; and a fourth section, which extends parallel to said second section and is perpendicular to the plane of movement of said third section.
 9. The device of claim 8 wherein the second section and said fourth section are disposed so as to be separated by a length which is substantially the same as a vehicle which is adapted to be employed with the device.
 10. The device of claim 9 wherein said first section extends in one direction from said support and said third section extends in a generally opposite direction from said support.
 11. The device of claim 10 wherein said arm is disposed so that when it is in said first position a vehicle can pass beneath said fourth section.
 12. The device of claim 11 wherein the first and third sections are at an angle with respect to each other.
 13. The device of claim 12 wherein said angle is less than 180* but greater than 90*.
 14. The device of claim 13 wherein said first and third sections in said first position are disposed at substantially the same angle from the horizontal.
 15. The device of claim 14 wherein when said arm is moved from said first position to said second position, the fourth section is positioned so that a vehicle is prevented from passing. 